Granite Countertops: The Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate Guide to Granite Countertops

When it comes to kitchen countertops, it matters a lot that you choose the right material for yourself so that you have the perfect mix of both practicality and style. One material that’s become especially popular these days is granite, a naturally occurring material that’s produced from the cooling of magma and is produced from within the earth’s core.

Granite has historically been a very expensive material, but it has become quite affordable in recent times which has contributed to an overall rise in the popularity of granite.

Granite countertops do not carry the same level of sophistication and finesse that tends to be associated with marble, but it remains one of the most popular materials for kitchen tops because of the fact that it is extremely affordable and still maintains a very desirable appearance.

If you’re caught between choosing granite or some other material, such as marble, the following guide will help you decide what the right kind of material is for you specifically.

The Popularity of Granite

To give you some idea of the popularity of granite, it used to be considered an exclusively luxury option way back in the 1920’s when it decorated the homes of the uber-rich only.

Starting from the 1970s on, however, it became a vastly more affordable and widespread material, partly due to the fact that various countries around the world such as Brazil increased their granite production which allowed the commodity to become more common.

As mentioned above, granite is one of the more popular choices for kitchen tops because of the fact that it’s comparatively more affordable than marble, for example.

Granite also has additional advantages that have allowed it to become so popular such as its natural hardness, physical durability, ease of maintenance, and availability in diverse colors and textures which make it one of the more unique materials commonly used for countertops.

In 2019, 29% of all homeowners in the U.S opted for granite countertops making it the second most widely used material for kitchen countertops after quartz.

The Different Types of Granite Countertops

As with any other material, there is a lot of nuance and diversity with the kinds of granite used for countertops. Since granite tends to appear in many different colors, textures, and varieties, there’s a lot of diversity with respect to the type that you can use for your countertop.

Generally speaking, since granite is not a single mineral so much as it is a composition of several minerals such as quartz, potassium, and mica the exact proportions of each material within a single slab vary and that is primarily responsible for accounting for its diverse types. Some of the major types of granite include white granite, black granite, pink granite, black and white granite as well as blue granite although not all of these tend to be used for kitchen tops specifically.

The most popular types of granite used for kitchen tops are Alaska White Granite, Black Pearl Leather Granite, Blue Pearl Granite, and White Ice Granite. Alaska White Granite tends to be a more popular choice these days while other varieties such as Van Gogh Granite are considered extremely rare and exotic, but are also far less common due to their costs.

How Much Do Granite Countertops Cost?

The cost will always, unsurprisingly, be one of the biggest considerations to keep in mind when opting for any material. Within the cost department, granite tends to perform better than certain other materials such as marble.

In Orlanod, FL, for example, more common varieties of granite costs between $40 to $60 per square foot with the more rare varieties naturally tending to cost higher between $70 to $100 per square foot.

Granite does have a category of  material that would be considered extremely rare of exotic, like Van Gogh Granite, which is considered the most exotic in the world. As you can imagine a natural stone that looks similar to his famous Starry Night painting commands tens of thousands of dollars for a single slab.

The Hardness of Granite

A kitchen top is inevitably a piece of real estate that you will be placing heavy objects such as pots, pans, and kitchen appliances upon, so it is very important that the material your kitchen top is composed of should be strong enough to withstand the daily pressures that you subject it to.

With respect to granite, it is one of the other harder materials used for kitchen top with a moh scale ranking of 6 to 7 which places it far above other common materials such as limestone and marble with rank at 3 and 5 respectively.

Since granite is a far harder material than both limestone and marble, it is especially practical to opt for granite if you expect to be placing a lot of heavy items on your countertop. Granite does not scratch or break easily due to its hardness which makes it a very practical option to consider for your kitchen.

How Easily Can Granite be Damaged?

Granite is a very strong and robust material as we’ve already established, but of course, it is not indestructible. If handled incorrectly, your precious granite countertop could crack and shatter into pieces.

Granite may not be a porous material, so it does not suffer from deep stains the way that marble does but if left exposed to acidic chemicals such as fruit juice, olive oil, vinegar, bleach, ammonia, or Windex it will experience some discoloration that is not easily corrected.

More serious problems can occur if you place excessively heavy items on your granite kitchen top for long periods of time. Cracks in granite countertops are extremely rare due to the material’s hardness but they can happen if, for example, you decide to stand on your countertop or place heavy weights upon it. Though granite can withstand high force, there is a common issue with respect to the materials and temperature resistance.

The good news is granite can be repaired. There are several ways to seal cracks or even fill in chips should a heavy cast iron pan be thrown at your countertops, or perhaps a 3 year old with a hammer decides your kitchen countertop is his personal workbench.

How Temperature Resistant Is Granite

The most common damages inflicted upon granite countertops consist of heat damage, and yes while the granite itself is extremely heat resistant the sealant and finish used on it is not, so placing hot pots and pans do have the potential of inflicting some hard to your countertop. The best advice on this matter would be to always use trivets when possible. Take a look at the video on this post to see the cracks that develop as hot pans are placed on a slab of granite.

It is important to factor in the importance of heat resistance since, naturally, you will be baking, boiling, and cooking at high temperatures, so it is very important that your countertop material is able to fully withstand the temperatures placed upon it. While granite itself is fully able to withstand these higher temperatures, the issue with its finish and sealant being damaged remains a consideration.

The Weaknesses of Granite

Overall, it can be observed that granite is a fairly ideal material to use for a countertop, it’s strong, beautiful-looking comes into diverse types and varieties is temperature resistant, and is not easily scratched or damaged.

That being said though, at the same time it has been observed that it is vulnerable to etching, cannot withstand extreme force, and its greatest weakness is that its sealant and finish can be easily damaged by high temperatures.

Overall, though, it can be said that if used properly and maintained appropriately, granite is one of the most affordable, and simultaneously practical, options for your countertop. The biggest concern for you when selecting granite should really be to make sure that you’re able to maintain it properly.

Granite Countertop Maintenance

As you understand already, granite does not have many of the same weaknesses that other materials such as marble have, but it is still extremely important to make sure that you invest the right effort and tools for maintaining your countertop. Otherwise, over time you will see it suffer from stains, discolorations, and physical damages.

Overall, though, granite countertops don’t require as extensive maintenance a granite countertop does need to be resealed annually. Granite should never be exposed to excessive force, as mentioned previously, since it can suffer from cracks or scratches if repeatedly exposed to force.

Assuming that your countertop is not exposed to either etching or physical force, it is relatively easy to clean and maintain as long as you use the correct materials. You can clean your countertop with water and soap, and certain cleaning products are manufactured specifically to be used for granite countertops. Do not, however, use more abrasive cleaners such as ammonia, bleach, or Windex since they will contribute to etching.

Additionally, depending on the type of granite that you purchase it may need to be sealed every once in a while, although it is typically rare for most variants of granite to require sealing at all.

The Pros of Using Granite

Cost

Granite is one of the more affordable materials with respect to kitchen tops. So, opting for granite is one of the best decisions for you if you are interested in reducing the costs of your kitchen counter.

Hardness

Granite is a very hard material so it is extremely practical for use as a kitchen countertop. In if you expect to place a lot of heavy material and items on it, it is especially one of the best materials that you can opt for.

Abundance

Granite is not a particularly rare material, especially since in the past few decades when new granite mines have been found in many different regions of the world. This makes it relatively easy to access no matter which part of the world you have to reside in.

Diversity

Granite is a very beautiful material, and it tends to come in very diverse colors and patterns. If aesthetic diversity is a major concern for you, granite can be one of the best materials that you can use especially if you want to have a very diverse looking décor for your kitchen.

The Cons of Using Granite

Heat Resistance

Granite can not be exposed to hot pans or excessively high heat for more than a few moments or it will crack. (See the video!)

Each slab is different

Because it is a natural material each slab is different from the next. If you have a project that requires two or three slabs, then there is a risk the slabs may be significantly different.

Seams Can Be Seen

When you need two slabs and the pieces must been seamed together. Due to granites natural properties the seam will be more visible because of the natural variations in the stone as opposed to a material like quartz where the uniformity of the stone helps seams blend in and become invisible

Annual Maintenance

Granite needs to be sealed annually. There are some products that have a longer warranty if you use them, but there’s a higher cost associated with them as well.